Low light/high ISO - SL2-S vs Lumix S1

[AdjusterBrett]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

SORRY to cloud the flurry of 'NEW' topics covering the threes with a dated but VERY pointed question.  I have the SL, I have the S1.  SL2-S I had for a brief time and kept the SL (back when the SL2S was a fortune to us poor folk).

Now, both new and used are much less.

I LOVE MY SL, period.  I do NOT love the low light performance compared to the S1 - it's not even close.  HOWEVER - the backside illuminated sensor of the SL2S (on paper) should give this to the SL2S.

In my span of 100hrs with the SL2S - I shot only vintage and only in decent light - and ultimately found better experience with the SL (for what I was doing), and liked the colors a bit more out of the SL...  Which lead to the release the SL2S back to the wild.  These days, as I twiddle my thumbs awaiting the release of the S1 m 2 (no R no H, just the one meant for us photo guys) -  and day dream of improvements to low light - and its been a ridiculously long wait - I keep wondering about the low light on the SL2S.

I am also a user (an abuser) of toying with ISO to control shutter speed in bright light and found the S1 to absolutely blow away everything else I've had in the past.  On the SL, I've just tend to filter up after 1600.

Don't be offended - but theoretical does me no good - need someone who has had or has both.  

[Advertisement]

The Leica Q3 is available for pre-order at B&H Photo Video and Adorama

[Elliot Harper]

I have a SL2-S but it's currently with Wetzlar for warranty. When I had it, the low light performed well, I have lots of keepers on ISO 6400

I have never owned any Panasonic cameras, so I can't comment on that.

I have very interested in your opinion. Can you show some comparison between these two cameras in the same high ISO settings?

[LD_50]

I’m not clear on the question here other than you’re wondering how the SL2-S performs at high ISO. You say low light but then talk about using ISO to achieve higher shutter speed in bright light so it’s really more about high ISO in all conditions.

There are a lot of tests, reviews, and sample photos with the SL2-S at high ISO. 

It’s much better than the SL. I haven’t seen direct comparisons to the S1 but I would expect similar results. 

[jaapv]

On the SL2S I can get usable low light images @ ISO 100.000. I think high ISO performance is not a topic any more with the present generation of cameras. 

[AdjusterBrett]

WHAT: I have/own/shoot an S1/SL/TL2 in L mount.  I love my S1 (if only I had a caddy to carry it for me), and I LOVE my SL - but in low light - it's a pig, period. The S1 does NOT have a BSI chip but damn near shoots in the dark (low light) with most vintage lenses.  It also does significantly better than the SL when I'm using a higher ISO to achieve a specific exposure (slower shutter) during daylight.

The LOW LIGHT is more important to me (although both are linked, as its the performance of the chipset itself).

LOOKING for a direct comparison between the S1 and the SL2S, by someone who owns both or who has owned both.

I've owned multiple A7III/XT-2/and others - they did NOT shoot the same - but in general they followed the same pattern.  I've also learned that the lens can affect the difference, and having owned and shot at least a dozen lenses for which I had multiple copies - they DO differ.  My point and the drive for this request...

If you own/owned both - you likely used the same glass - ideally some vintage - which ELIMINATES the variance different lenses can add to the comparison, hence I'd love your take on the comparison.

If I've learned one thing in this journey (photo) - forums and websites are littered with perceptions, but very few experiences.  Therefore - REAL WORLD experience for the win, period (doing it always beats reading about it).

WHY...   I've been selling off stuff (LONG overdue) - so cash burning hole in pocket (so to say).  The S5 II if very attractive, but I'm >75% vintage so the newfangled auto focus is nice, but the EVF is small, and seemingly the SL2S used is only a couple hundred more and under 3500 new...   S5 II has BSI so I would assume it's an improvement over the S1 in low light (which, in itself, is impressive) - and regrettably I had an SL2S for a very short period - during which I didn't' bother the check anything but handling and output on vintage vs the SL before returning it to the wild (MY ERROR, in hindsight).  Being WINTER and on the north coast - I find for some 4-6 months of the year; I'm shooting during or post dusk.  When I compared the SL2S and the SL - it was July - with daylight till almost 930pm, so low light was out of mind.  Currently - by the time I can break away from work to shoot - its dark, so recently I've been less than thrilled with some of the results on the SL.